Proudly Part of the City That Defines ‘Pride’

Dons March in SF Annual Parade

“When we march in Pride, we do it because we know it’s important both for those who march and for those who see us march,” said Andrea Wise ’08, MA ’13.

“We want people to see that USF is a space that is equitable and comfortable for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning) people, and we work hard to make that image a reality.”

200 strong contingent

Wise and Ammon Corl, assistant professor of biology, co-chair USF’s LGBTQ Caucus, which rallied nearly 200 Dons to march in San Francisco’s 44th annual Pride Parade June 29 — more than double the number of participants last year. USF’s contingent of faculty, staff, students, and alumni made its way up Market Street on an unseasonably warm Sunday, waving green and gold pompoms and cheering with crowds of revelers. An estimated 100,000 people attended the parade, making it one of the largest parades in the country.

A way to bond and show school spirit

Some USFers saw the event as a special way to bond with co-workers. “I don’t remember experiencing that much school spirit in my 10 years at USF,” said Julia Hing, assistant director of employer relations at USF. “It was a fantastic day.”

The LGBTQ Caucus USF’s parade contingent, which was co-sponsored by the Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good, Human Resources, the Office of Diversity Engagement and Outreach, and the Office of Communications and Marketing. The groups say they will march again in 2015.